I have been feeling like a bad parent lately because I haven't really planned anything for Kellan's fourth birthday, which is coming up in a couple of weeks. He has been looking forward to a party for months now. He really just wants to have friends over, but I know parents are required to make the day especially festive.

Not that I'm against pulling out all the stops on birthdays. I love birthdays! It's just that it seems like even the youngest kids have these extravagant celebrations. Spending thousands of dollars for a child's party has become the norm for some families. If that's a parent's priority, that's certainly his or her prerogative but I definitely want to take the less is more approach.

So in the end, I'll probably throw something together that's worthwhile for the kids and the parents (they have to hang out for a couple of hours too after all). It won't be nearly as, um decorative, as some parties but as long as it involves friends, family, and fun I'm sure my son will find his big day to be just as memorable.